My respect for Winning, by new Archbishop

THE next Archbishop of Glasgow had a sinking feel when he learnt that he was to succeed the late Cardinal Thomas Winning, because he was "a hard act to follow".

The Bishop of Aberdeen, the Rt Rev Mario Joseph Conti, 67, was named simultaneously in Rome and Glasgow yesterday as the archbishop-elect of Scotland's largest Roman Catholic diocese. He said he was succeeding a man of great character and ability.

Described by a Church source as "forthright, unwavering and articulate", Bishop Conti was a staunch supporter of Cardinal Winning's orthodox views.

He said his first priority would be to meet the priests of the diocese to "find out their concerns", and joked that a recent suggestion that Cardinal Winning might be made a saint because people were praying to him had not made his task any easier.

"I would hope that I might be able to build on and take advantage of the opportunities that he has opened up for us in the Catholic Church. I hope I will not lack courage to say what needs to be said when people expect it to be said.

Related Articles

"What I know of the people of Glasgow is that they are a warm-hearted, humorous and friendly people without airs and graces, but very confident in their own world."

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, Archbishop of Westminster, congratulated Bishop Conti and said he would take with him "invaluable experience and insights" after 25 years as a bishop. Archbishop Sean Brady, head of the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland, said his qualities of "heart and intellect" endeared him to everyone who met him.

Bishop Conti "carried the burden" of knowing he was to be the next archbishop for several weeks, without being able to tell his closest friend. The Catholic Church in Scotland was informed of his appointment 45 minutes before the announcement.

He revealed that he was a lover of classical music but, unlike his predecessor, did not follow football. Cardinal Winning was a season-ticket holder at Celtic Park and rarely missed a home game.

The bishop expressed concern that people were losing their faith, and he hoped he could boost Mass attendances, which were "perhaps slipping".

He added: "Our western society is increasingly secularised and faith seems to be marginalised. It's not so in other parts of the world, we only need to look with a telescope to other continents to see the faith is very vibrant." Bishop Conti, who was born in Elgin, Morayshire, studied at the Scots College and the Gregorian University in Rome and speaks Italian. He is a strong supporter of the inter-faith ecumenical movement, and of initiatives to help the poor.

The Rt Rev Idris Jones, the Episcopal Bishop of Glasgow and Galloway, said he was thrilled by the appointment that "could only mean even closer co-operation and friendship between the churches".

Bishop Conti, who has been Bishop of Aberdeen since 1977, will be formally installed at a Mass in St Andrew's Cathedral on Feb 22. Cardinal Winning died last June, aged 76, after a heart attack.